cover image Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours

Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours

Robert C. Pozen. HarperBusiness, $27.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-218853-3

One thing working people can agree upon today is that time is an increasingly scarce commodity: there is always too much to do and not enough hours to do it. Enter Pozen, an uber-productive executive who manages two full-time jobs and numerous writing projects while maintaining a healthy relationship with his family. Like many other how-to books on increasing personal and organizational productivity, Pozen emphasizes three factors: "set and prioritize your goals," "focus on the final product," and "don't sweat the small stuff." He provides worthwhile guidance on everything from developing writing and public-speaking skills to managing institutional chains of command. Of particular value are chapters on common but mundane aspects of corporate life like office meetings%E2%80%94and why they should be avoided%E2%80%94and maintaining productive travel habits. Constant pressure and conflicting deadlines and priorities can derail even the most diligent worker, so Pozen's methods for retaining focus are invaluable. These tactics arm workers and managers alike with the means to handle distractions with minimal disruption. Filled with useful recommendations on a wide variety of topics, this book will find adherents at every level of the company org chart. Agent: Jim Levine, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency. (Oct.)